Politics & Government

November 2013 Election

5:58 am

Wed November 6, 2013

Voters in three Oregon counties have rejected property tax increases to fund public safety and jails. The levies in Curry, Polk, and Columbia counties would have made up for cuts to federal timber aid.

Voters in Curry County on Oregon’s south coast soundly defeated their safety levy.That leaves the county 2 million dollars short of funding next year for the jail and six deputies. Commissioner David Itzen says the county may try one last time to pass a safety levy next May.

A record twenty-two million dollars in opposition spending appears to have paid off for grocery, seed and pesticide makers. Washington voters Tuesday night were rejecting a ballot measure to require GMO-labeling of foods. Opponents declared victory.

The music at the Yes on 522 party in Seattle’s Pioneer Square was upbeat. But the speeches were of the more subdued variety. Trudy Bialic of PCC Natural Markets is a campaign spokesperson. She addressed the crowd after early returns showed the measure down by nearly double digits.

Lane Community College

12:43 am

Wed November 6, 2013

Larry Romine, long time board member, writer and teacher, died October 25th, at the age of 83.

Larry Romine was a reporter for the Register-Guard back in 1960's, the heyday of the daily paper. He taught journalism at LCC and the University of Oregon. Larry served two terms on the Lane Board of Education. His friend and colleague Pat Albright filled the board position from District 5 when Larry retired.

2014 Election

7:14 am

Tue November 5, 2013

Conventional wisdom in Salem is that Governor John Kitzhaber will run for re-election next year. But that’s not a given. The 66-year-old Democrat has repeatedly said he’s not made up his mind. That's left potential Republican candidates wondering what the governor’s race will look like next year. There’s one candidate who has entered the fray that you may not have heard of. He says everything he needs to know, he learned in the fields of central Oregon. He even wrote a song about it.

6:00 am

Mon November 4, 2013

The City of Eugene’s controversial multiple unit property tax exemption (MUPTE) program has been under a lot of scrutiny in recent years.

The City of Eugene has used MUPTE to enable re-development of underutilized areas in our downtown. Now, neighborhood activist Paul Conte has produced a ballot initiative that would repeal this program. So we ask the question: Should we retain MUPTE as a tool to enable downtown re-development, or should we eliminate it?

Public Assistance

7:32 pm

Thu October 31, 2013

Beginning Friday, more than 800,000 Oregonians receiving SNAP, or food benefits, will see a reduction in their monthly stipend. The change is the result of an expiring federal stimulus program put in place during the recession.

How much food can you buy with ten dollars? A loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a bag of carrots, a couple apples, maybe some off-brand pretzels… not much more. But it enough to provide a person a meal a day for about a week.

November 2013 Elections

12:25 am

Wed October 30, 2013

Lane County officials remind voters this election to only use ballot drop boxes that are open.

Three groups of Lane County residents are casting ballots in the general election – those in the Springfield and Junction City School Districts and residents in the River Road Park and Recreation District. Correspondingly, only drop boxes in Junction City, Springfield and at the River Road Park office are open.